Silent Days, Holy Night is a charming story with unforgettable characters. I like the way the nearly eleven year old Julia Russell tells how she becomes friends with Henry Lafferty, and the lengths to which she goes to be able to communicate with him.
It is a story about friendship, about seeing what can be done to improve a situation rather than what cannot be done, and seeing the goodness in others.
Although Henry Lafferty has been a recluse, which has led to all kinds of horrible stories having been made up about him, Julia finds out what a kind and loving person he is and really strives to make him happy.
Julia is wise beyond her years and is always asking questions. I particularly like to see the special relationship she has with her father.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Gilead Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I am so happy to have discovered this new-to-me author. Silent Days, Holy Night is a poignant story told by Julia Russell as she remembers meeting Henry Lafferty as a ten-year-old girl and their growing relationship. Ever the inquisitive one, Julia was more than excited to meet the reclusive Mr. Lafferty, and was astonished to learn that he could neither walk, hear or speak, but after discovering their shared love of music, Julia was determined to learn to communicate with the man who would become her closest friend.

This story is reminiscent of the children's classic Pollyanna, made into a family favorite movie. It too has movie potential, but far beyond a predictable Hallmark Christmas movie. Silent Days, Holy Night deals with the messiness of growing up, reaching out to others and not giving up when it is difficult, and selflessness. Adults will enjoy this story, but it would also make a great family read-aloud during the holidays, providing great fodder for conversation.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Gilead Publishing for providing me with a copy of Silent Days, Holy Night in exchange for my honest opinion, which is that this is a wonderful holiday story. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

For me today was not a silent day, in fact it was quiet chaotic. Which I say so you know how peaceful it was to dive into this beautiful Christmas read and have a Holy Night.

Phyllis Clark Nichols voice catches me off guard as a writer who effortlessly creates a world that is believably good, where excessive plot and shock value doesn’t need to move the plot along, because it is moved by characters that enchant the mind of the reader. Her writing has such an elegant style which I have difficulty comparing to other writers. Her plots move a little slower, but that doesn’t keep me from being edge-of-my-seat interested. The fact that she can entertain an audience through the story of a young girl, is not a talent most writers can boast. The humanity she shows in her writing is universal, no matter the age of the character being written about.

I particularly love the tidbits of knowledge that she weaves into the story, like a history of the full moon being called a beaver moon and the detailed description of birds that one of the character observes.

Her books are not just to entertain but to be savoured, so we might see the goodness of God left in the world and try our best to honor Him more. I wouldn’t recommend this book for someone in need of a fast-paced read but more for someone who needs a book to feed their soul. Which, let’s face it, is all of us during this very broken time in the world and thankfully it is the perfect season to get into Christmas!

I also am excited that there is a recipe in the back of the book for the ~famous~ Grancie’s pound cake cookies!

Recommended reader: no age restriction due to content. I would recommend as the perfect book for someone looking for a calming read by the fire!

This is a very heartwarming book that will kept you turning the pages to see what happens next. It is very well written and makes you feel like you are there. You will love Julia, I could just picture her in my mind. You won't regret getting this book. Thank you Gilead Publishing via NetGalley for the free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion and I highly recommend this book.